Sanding Reliefs

[tomdefelice]

Hi,
Does anyone have any ideas on how to best go about sanding off the little ridges left from the toolpaths when carving reliefs out of hardwoods? I have done some pretty intricate carvings and the sanding often takes longer than the actual carving. I'm using artcam and I realize that I can decrease the stepover of my bit, which of course will increase the number of toolpaths and the total carving time, but I want to know if anyone knows how to get the smoothness of a baby's butt without practically carving the piece by hand after the machine has already done the work.
Thanks,
Tom DeFelice

[ckurak]

While attending a local woodworker's club meeting, I learned about a "flap sander." It can be attached to a hand-held drill. The members were using it to smooth the rough edges on Christmas toys that they were donating. Now, the wood was generally pine (soft, of course), but the idea MAY work. (It reminds me of the tool the shoe repair man used to smooth replacement rubber heels when I was younger. :-)

Woodworker's Supply sells at several. Here are some pointers:

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=113-690
http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=109-020
http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=860-414
http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=952-431

Keep in mind that I have NO IDEA if this will work for you or not. Good luck!

Charles

[bjwat@comcast.net]

Tom,
This is a difficult problem for all of us...I haven't tried it yet, but sandblasting would be something that I would try. I know that they sell an airbrush sized sandblaster that is inexpensive. With that type of control, it may be the ideal way to sand relief carvings.

Just an idea.

-Brady

[jay_mack1@hotmail.com]

Little Fuzzys!

Guys, while doing some cutting this weekend, I got lots of fuzzy edges. For one the plywood that I was using S**KED, but would it be better to cut a different direction?

Also looking to finish MDF, what is the best way to keep it from swelling. I've heard of solvent based primers, but I can't seem to find it in our local paint department. Does a pour on epoxy have any affect on MDF?

Thanks!

[barrowj]

Stickman,
We do alot of mdf for our crown moulding that we sell and i use a mix of 50%yellow glue and 50% hot water. This is called glue sizing and it works extremely well. We always sand with 220 after the glue sizing dries and the primer goes on smooth. You can check our stuff on www.jlkenterprises.com.

Joe

[prosigns]

Sounds crude I know.., but when I rout a design into oak, I use a wire brush to clean it up. It takes most of the fussies out of the grooves. I usually do the wire brush first and then use an orbital sander on the flat surface. So, any small scratches get sanded off. I do oak menuboards where the background is pocketed with a ball nose bit. The wire brush does a good job of quickly cleaning it up. If I have any stuborn spots I seal it and hit it again after it is good & dry. Also, the wire brush doesn't round off any fine design details like sandpaper does.

[Brad (Unregistered Guest)]

stickman
Fuzzys is usually a sign of high moisture in hardwoods. I don't know if it is the same for plywood or not.